My family is headed to Yellowstone in August (2 kids, 8 & 10). We'll arrive from the east (Cody) and leave via the south (for GTNP). We have 5 or 6 nights for Yellowstone.
We have some reservations and I'm stuck regarding the rest. A few decisions:
1) stay in 1 place, stay in 3 places (or more)?
2) Should I make lodging decisions based on what's available right now or make plan B reservations and keep watching/hoping for cancellations?
(for instance Mammoth cabin with bath or Old Faithful cabin with bath)

Questions:
1) I can check mileage or Google maps regarding distances but what will it be like in August? Will we be in traffic, which will make it prohibitive to keep returning to Canyon or Lake Yellowstone?
2) Because of summer crowds, does it make more sense to keep moving? 1 night each: Lake Yellowstone, Canyon, Roosevelt, Mammoth, Old Faithful?
3) Are cancellations common? I've read that some people call daily. Does that really get results?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
Thank you!

First, click on my user name for my trip report on Yellowstone with Kids. I also have one on Jackson Hole/GTNP with kids.

Second--whoo boy, are we talking crowds in August. But I've done it. We stayed 3 places when we went--just because that was all I could get!! I would try to stay in OF and Canyon myself. I am an uber planner, so I would do a plan A and a plan B--what to do if I got a cancellation. I didn't call every day. That's too much even for me But it doesn't hurt to call once a week--there are cancellations as the months tick by. But I would definitely take whatever you can now--if you haven't already reserved. I reserved in October for July if that tells you something .

Change locations not more than once. Otherwise the packing and moving will eat up the time that you are saving by being closer to a sight or another. Use two locations at opposite ends of the loop, such as Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yes, cancellations are common.

I have no patience for phoning and waiting on hold, so I used the website:
https://ynpres1.xanterra.com/cgi-bin...0):;CLSUM9;?/#
It takes a little while to figure out, but I managed to get what worked for me eventually. I grabbed rooms as they became available, and canceled some nights after better choices became available.

I agreee, do make reservations in at least two places in the park if you can and call for better locations. As to the one night stays, don't unpack , just take out toiletries and the clothes you will need the next day and repack your used clothes before you go to bed. in the morning pack your jammies and toiletries and take off to your next destination.

Part of the slow traffic even when there is no traffic is due to animals like bison walking in the road at their own pace and they have the right of way. Mapping programs do not account for that.